Amphibian



Aung. 20, 1946.V J. M. HAIT AMPHIBIAN- Filed May 727',y 1943 5 sheets-sheet 1 Aug. 2o, 1946'.

J M. HAI-r AMPHIBlAN 5 sheets-sheet 3 Filed May 27, 1943 mmv MMY mg 1MM. il WQ l wN Patented Aug. 20, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE y AMPHIB'IAN James M. Hait, San Gabriel; Calif., assigner to Food Machinery Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application May 27, 1943, Serial No. 488,685

amphibians are designed to carry, the cargo compartment in the ship of necessity has to be fairly deep, with its floor' well below the water level. All loading or unloading of cargo has beendorre by lifting the cargo over the gunwale of the ship,

It is 'an object of this invention to provide a cargo carrying amphibian in the hull of which a door is provided which opens directly from the cargo carrying compartment to the exterior oi the ship and which permits the loading of cargo into said compartment or the unloading of cargo therefrom with a minimum ci labor.

Heretofore the cargo carrying space and car. rying capacity of amphibians has been relatively small as compared to the size and weight of the amphibian itself.

It is an object of rny invention to very substantially increase the cargo space and carrying capacity of such amphibians in proportion to the size and Weight of the latter.

It is another object f my invention to provide such an amphibian in which the center o"f gravity is relatively low, in which splash ordinarily produced by 'grousers on the track laying mechanisms is eliminated and in which these yfeatures are obtained while at the same time' providing a strong, rugged structure in the ship and a proper fore and aft balance in the ship so that it will be well trimmed whether travelling light or heavy.

In amphibian construction it is highly desir` able to have a box structure in at least one end of the ship. Where the ship has a door at its rear end, as is preferable in the present invention, it is highly desirable' to provide a heavy trans- Verse bulkhead joining the side Walls of the ship and spaced backwardly from the bow.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a bulkhead which is relatively close to the bow of the ship and yet have' this bulkhead form the front bulkhead of the cargo carrying' compartment.

It is another object of this invention to Drovide such a ship with the engine located between the rbow andthe frontbulkhead and still have ample space for/dual pilots between the bow and the" frontl bulkhead.

. 11 Claims.

(C1. usa-fi) YYet another objectof the invention is to providesucha ship in whichthe engine so provided is airc'ooled and in which means is provided for withdrawing air from the atmosphere, circulating it about the engine; and returning this all' t0 the atmosphere without the necessity for its going throgh the cargo compartment so that the lattei' may be filled with cargo Without impeding the-circilation of air for the engine.`

n ttac'k laying amphibians heretofore produced the Atra'clf. laying mechanisms occupied a considerable portion of the space at the sides of the ship and the cargo compartment was entirely disposed in between these mechanisms.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a cargo carrying' amphibian in which the track laying mechanisms are disposed below the cargo compartment, permitting a substantial increase the Width of the latter Without widening theshirf. ,Y

The manner of accomplishing the foregoing cb- 'a'cts, aswell as Afurther objects and advantages, will be made manifest in the following description tak in connection `with the accompanying dra ings in which;

Fig.' lis a plan view 'of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational v iew of Fig. 1.v

Fig; 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on menne 3-3 df Fig. `1.

Fig. 1 isa longitudinal' sectional view taken onine-line 1 4er Fig,- 1. Fig. 5 a diagrammatic sectional view taken on the linfe -foi Fig 4, and illustrating the torign'e' and groove connection preferably provided retv'veen the'end door' and side walls of the am 'ian of my invention.`

Fig. 63 is a reduced scale front elevational viewv of the invention.

Fig'. n'I is a rear elevationalview of Fig. 6l with the amphibian resting on land and the end door opent.` Y

Fig 8' is' a transverse sectional view taken on the line 8*-8 of Fig. 4.

Referring specifica-ny' te the drawings, my invention is there shown as embodied in an'ar'nphi- 3| at the stern and an upwardly curving portion 32 at the bow which forms the bow plate of the bow structure 2|. The bottom structure 20 also has fore-and-aft T-section ribs 33 which are preferably welded to the bottom Vplate 30 and extend forwardly into the bow structure 2| where they conform to and are welded to the bow plate 32. The bottom structure 23 also has side plates 35 which are connected ,by transverse stiffening plates 36, the upper edges of which are preferably united with a cargo deck 31. The stern bottom section 3| is reinforced by girders 40, the front ends of which are united with a transverse angle 4| and the rear ends of which are united with a transverse angle 42 to which the rear ends of the bottom section 3| and the deck 31 are also united.

As shown in Fig. 3, the cargo deck 31 has a step 45 formed therein along each side of the ship which extends laterally beyond the side plates 35 of the bottom structure and over the track laying mechanisms L2. Y 4

In the bow structure 2| the bow plate 32 and the bow ribs 33 extend forwardly and upwardly to unite witha tubular bow beam 46 and are united with forward extensions 41 0f the bottom struc.- ture side plates 35 and with forward extensions 48 of the hull sides 22. A bow deck 50 reinforced by ribs 5| and shaped to Vaccommodate windows 52 and escape hatches 53, extends upwardly from the bow beam 46 to unite with the upper edge of a transverse bulkhead 60, the latter extending entirely `across the ship and being rigidly united with the bottom structure 25 and the hull sides 22.

VAs clearly shown in Figs. l Vand 4, the engine I3 is mounted in the bow structure 2| forward of the bulkhead 60. It would be impractical to do this in amphibians of the prior art and still providev suitable cabin space for'rdual pilots. The provision of adequate space in the bow structure for this purpose is provided in the amphibian of my invention by greatly reducing the depth of the track laying mechanisms I2, mounting these on the rigid bottom structure 20 of the ship instead of on the sides of the ship as was formerly the practice, and then extending the sides later- `ally to the full beam of the craft throughout its length.

This provides room in the bow structure 2| for a housing 6| for the engine |3 and leaves ample space on opposite sides 0f this housing for the two pilots, chairs 62 for the pilots being mounted opposite the windows 52 (see Figs. 1, 4 and 8).

The pilots normally have access to their operating stations in the bow structure through doors 33 in the bulkhead 6|). `When these doors are blocked by cargo carried on the deck 31 the pilots may enter and leave their operating stations through the escape hatches53.

Although various types of power plants can be used in the amphibian I0, the engine I3 is pref-` erably a radial cylinder internal combustion engine ef the type commonly used in airplanes, and is preferably air-cooled. The engine embodies a fan 84 which is shown diagrammatically in Figs. 4 and 8 as being suitably housed so that air sucked axially into the fan from the rear is discharged I3 into the interior of the engine housing 6| and escapes from this through conduits 61, which extend diagonally rearwardly therefrom as shown in Figs. l and 8, and through triangular ducts 68 formed in the Vcorners between the bulkhead 63 and sides 22, to be discharged through grids 63.

The hull sides 22 extend upwardly from the outer edges of the side steps formed in the cargo deck 31, these sides being preferably only the thickness of a single sheet 0f metal and being reinforced by rails 15 and ribs 13. The stern edges of the sides 22 preferably incline rearwardly and are provided with grooves 11 (see Fig. 5) into whichtongues 18 on opposite side edges of the door 23 are adapted to enter and compress a strip of packing 1Q therein.

The door 23 is connected at its lower edge by hinges 83 to the stern bottom section 3|. A strip of packing material 84 mounted in the angle 42, unites at its ends with Ythe'packing material 19 and is compressed between thelower edge of the door 23 and the angle 42 when the door is closed, thereby making a complete sea-tight seal between the bottom and side edges 0f the door and the rest of the hull. i

Mounted on the sides 22 are suitablewinches 85 which are connected by cables/35 to the door 23. These Winches are adapted to raise the door 23 and hold this in its closed position in which it is shown in full lines in Fig, 4, 0r to lower this door into contact with the ground when the amf Y phibian I5 is resting on land as shown Yby brokenY lines 81 in this figure.

The track laying'inechanisms l2 of the amphibian le of my invention, in contrast to those employed on amphibiansrin the prior art, are

'designed to occupy a space of a vminimum height and are mounted on opposite side edge portions` of the bottom structure 2|! of the amphibian hull so that each of these track laying mechanisms is entirely disposed beneath the water line whenever the amphibian is afloat. This produces many advantages, some of which have already been pointed out, another advantage whichwill be explained more fully hereinafter being the simplication of the means for transmitting power from the engine to the track laying. mechanisms so as to differentially drive these at will.

forwardly around the cylinders of the engine so as to coolv these. Y

Built into the'bow structure 2| is a sheet metal Vconduit 65 having an airintake grid 66 in the deck 50 adjacent the bulkheadV 6D which con-- Still another advantage of this feature is that the track laying mechanisms 2 maybe providedrwith `a very strong andrugged mounting extending laterally from a relatively rigid bottom structure such as the structure 23, and at the same time relieve the rest of the hull Il from participation in the functionof supporting the track layingfrmechanisms I2 when Ythe amphibian I3 is afloat as well as from transmitting to these mechanisms the weight of the amphibian and the shocks and strains incidental to the latter travelling onland.

Each of the track laying mechanisms l2V includes an endless belt 88 which may be of link construction or of reinforced rubber or of any other suitable material and construction, this belt having mounted on the outer face thereof an endless series of grousers 83 which rest on the ground and support the amphibian when it is travelling on land and which are preferably built with such a shape that when the amphibian la is afloat it will be propelled relatively efficiently through the water by the action of the grousers 89 thereagalnst.

nachten as is trained about an idle sprocketV amphibian I 3 when the latter is travelling on land. This is effected through a series of bogie wheels 96 which are mounted in any suitable manner on the bottom of a very strong base 9?, which is rigidly fixed on and extends laterally fromthe hull bottom structure 20.

The idle sprocket 9S is shiftably` mounted on the forward end of the base 91 as shown in Fig. 2 and is adjustable in a fore-and-aft direction thereon by means of a jack 98. The upper run of the belt 88 of each mechanism I2 is supported at intervals by rollers IIN! journalling in brackets provided on the base 91.

The drive sprocket 95 of each mechanism IE is mounted on an axle |65 which extends laterally through a suitable packed bearing Iiiii mounted in one of th`e bottom structure side plates 35. The axles 35 connect with a gear box I|i1 of the transmission I4, this gear box being preferably of the differential type and also one providing gear mechanism for varying the drive ratio of the power transmitted to the axles IE5 or for reversing the latter. The gear box |31 is preferably one of the well kno-wn types in common use at present in land military tanks being produced in the United States.

Owing to the greatly decreased overall height of the track laying mechanisms I2 it is possible to mount the gear box Iiil directly on the hull bottom plate Sii and provide a relatively smooth deck 31 without the necessity of the bilge space in between the bottom plate and the deck having an excessive depth.

Besides the gear box |01 the power tranmission I4 includes a drive shaft l iii which connects through a universal joint I I with the gear box I Q1 and through a universal joint II2 with a power take-off II3 which extends downwardly from the engine I3 just forward of the bulkhead 6U.

Ample space is provided in the bilge to accommodate fuel storage tanks |29 from which the fuel may be conducted to the engine I3 through a pipe line I2 I. It is to be noted that the bulkhead 5i) is pierced only to allow the passage of the universal joint II2 and the fuel line I2! there through and to connect the lower ends of the air conduits t1 with the air ducts $8.

The step portions 45 of the deck 31 arek rigidly united with the bottom structure 2|) by a supplemental angular frame structure embodied with opposite side portions of the bottom structure. The track laying mechanisms I2 are covered on the outside and the deck steps 45 and hull sides 22 are braced by downward side extension plates |25 which are united as by bolts |21 and |28 to the lower edges of the sides 22 and to the base structures 91. The plates |25 are preferably provided with reinforcing panels IS welded to the inner faces thereof for increasing the compression stresses which plates` |26 can endure.

In some cases it is found preferable to have the plates |26 extend downwardly below the base structures 91, and to provide corresponding guard plates on the bottom Lstructure 2Q to guard the lower flights of the belts 88. I have found, however, that in many operations it is quite prac-tical to dispense with these guards.

The amphibian I0 is adapted particularly foi1 travel on land or water in amphibious warfare. It is of great importance in such operations that the splash caused by the grousers on the track laying mechanisms be reduced to render it more diflicult for the enemy to detect the presence of our amphibians. In the amphibian IIJ I have entirely eliminated grouser splash by submerging v both upper and lower runs ofthe track belts of the track laying mechanisms. This I have done in accordance with the principles set forth in my co-pending application for U. S. Letters Patent Serial No. 426,030, filed January 8, 1942, on Amphibian, whereby the upper submerged run of grousers is housed over to substantially eliminate the counter propulsive effect which otherwise would be produced by this.

Added to the many advantages of my invention pointed out hereinabove is the relatively low center of gravity attained in the amphibian I 3 as compared with the prior art practice. This is accomplished by the greatly lowered center of gravity of the track laying mechanisms I2 and their mountings and the driving of these mechanisms through a gear box |01 (which is a relatively heavy item of equipment) with this gear box placed almost directly on the bottom plate of the hull and close to the stern of the ship. The lowering of the center of gravity is also aided by the reduction of the weight of the sides of the hull which previously have constituted fairly bulky and heavy pontoons which in the present invention are of a single thickness of sheet metal construction.

While the engine I3 is not disposed at as low a level as it is'possible to place this, the type of engine used weighs approximately less than onehalf as much as the gear box |01.

The preservation of clean lines in the cargo carrying space above the deck 31 and surrounded by the bulkhead til, sides 22 and door 23, has been made possible by use of the power take-off II3 for delivering power from the engine I3 downwardly to such a level that the drive shaft ||0 can directly connect the engine with the gear box |01 without the necessity of deforming the plane surface of the deck 31.

Another advantage possessed by the amphibian IIi is the certainty of a free flow of cooling air to and from the engine I3 through the grids 65 and 69, regardless of whether or not cargo rllls the forward end of the cargo space adjacent the bulkhead BIJ.

The door 23 also renders it possible to load or unload the amphibian I Il-while resting on land, with relatively little effort, merely by lowering the door 23 to its broken line position 81, in which it may be used as a ramp either to deliver cargo into the amphibian or to discharge this therefrom. Y

What I claim is:

1. In an amphibian the combination of: a

hull including a rigid bottom structure, a box-like bow structure and sides; track laying mechanisms mounted on opposite lateral edges of said bottom structure beneath and inwardly from said sides; a door hingedly connected to the rear end of said bottom structure; means for integrating said door and said sides and to form a sealing closure for the space between the rear ends of said bottom structure and said sides when said door is closed; means for closing said door or opening the same and permitting it to swing downwardly to form a ramp to assist in the loading or unloading of cargo from said aniphibian; and power means provided on said amphibian for differentially actuating said track laying mechanisms.

2. An amphibian comprising: a hull having a bottom structure, a box-like bow structure and side and stern extending upwardly from rear and lateral portions of said bottom structure t0 enclose a' cargo compartment, said bow structure including a transverse bulkhead joining forward portions of said sides and providing the forward bulkhead of said compartment; track laying mechanisms mounted'rigidly on opposite side .edges of said bottom structure,y a cargo 'compartment deck covering said bottom structure and said tracklaying mechanisms and leaving' a space within a major portion of the depth of said sides free from encumbrance by said track' laying mechanisms for the accommodation of cargo; and powermeans provided on said hull for driving said track laying mechanisms differentially. i

3. In an amphibian the combination of a hull including a rigid bottom structure; track laying mechanisms mounted on opposite sides of said bottom structure; deck means overlying said bottom structure and said track laying mechanisms and forming the deck of a cargo compartment, said deck being below Ythewater line when the ship is afloat; bow,` side, and stern means on said hull and rising from said bottom structure upwardly above said water line to enclose said cargo compartment and render said amphibian buoyant; and power means' on said hull for differentially actuating said track laying mechanisms.

4. In an amphibian the combination of: a hull Y including a rigid bottomstructure'; track laying Vmechanisms mounted on opposite sides of said bottom structure; deck means overlying said bottom structure and said track laying mechainsms and forming the deck of a cargo compartment, said deck being below the water line when the ship is afoat; bow, side and stern means on said hull and rising from said bottom structure upwardly above said water line to enclose said cargo compartment and render said amphibian buoyant, said bow means comprising a box-like structure including a transverse' bulkhead adjacent said cargo compartment; an engine in said means for transmitting power from said engine to said gear means.

5. A combination as in calim V4 in which said Y engine is a radial cylinder internal combustion enginge, and in which said power transmission means includes an offset power takeoff extending downwardly from said engine, and a shaft disposed beneath said deck and connecting Vsaid takeoff to said gear means.

6. In an amphibian, the combination of: a rigid hull bottom structure; track laying mechanisms mounted on said bottom structure along opposite sides thereof; bow, side and sternmeans on said hull bottom structure, said bow means comprising a `box-like structure including a transverse bulkhead joining said hull side means; a cargo deck provided on said bottom structure and located beneath the Vwater line of the ship when the latter is afloat; an/vengine disposed in said bow box structure forward of said bulkhead; and transmission means disposed beneath said deck for connecting said engine to said mechanisms for differentially driving the latter.

7. In an amphibian, the combination of: a rigid hull bottom structure; track laying mechbow structure forward of said bulkhead; gear anisms mounted on said bottom structure along opposite sides thereof; bow, and side means and a stern doorprovid-ed on said hull bottom structure, said bow means comprising'a box-like structure including a transverse bulkhead joining said hull side means; a cargo deck provided on said bottom structure and located beneath the water line'of the ship when the latter is afloat; an engine disposed in said bow box structureV forward of said bulkhead; and transmission means disposed beneath said deck for connecting said engine to said mechanisms for differentially driving the latter. A Y

8. In an amphibian the combination of a hull including a rigid bottom structure; track/,laying mechanisms mounted on opposite sides of said bottom structure; deck means overlying said bottomV structure and said track laying mechanisms and forming the deck of 1a cargo compartment; bow, side, and stern means on said hull and rising from said bottom structure upwardly above said deck means to enclose said cargo compartment and render said amphibian buoyant; and power means on said hull( for differentially actuating said track laying mechanisms.

9. In an amphibian thecombination of: a hull including a rigid bottom structure; track laying mechanisms mounted on opposite sides of said bottom structure; deck means overlying'said bottom structure and said track laying mechanisms and forming the deck of a cargo compartment; bow, side and stern means on said hull and rising from said bottom structure upwardly above said deck means to enclose said cargo compartment and render said amphibian buoyant,V said bow means comprising a Ybox-like structure including l.

a transverse bulkhead adjacent said cargo compartment; an engine in said bow box structure forward of said bulkhead; gear means under said deck adjacent the stern of the ship and connected t0 said track laying mechanism for differentially driving the same; and means V'for transmitting power from saidengine to said gear means. Y' I 10. In an amphibian, the combination of a rigid hull bottom structure; track laying mechanisms mounted on said bottom structure along Opposite sides thereof bow, side and stern means on said hull bottom structure, said bow means comprising a box-like structure including a transverse bulkhead joining said hull side means; a

cargo deck provided on said bottom structure; an engine disposed in said bow boxl structure forward vof said bulkhead; and transmission means disposed beneath 'said deck for connecting said engine to said mechanism for differentially driving the latter.

1l. In an amphibian, the combination of: a rigid hull bottom structure; track layingvmechanisms mounted on said bottom structure along opposite sides thereof; bow, and Side means and a stern door provided on said hull bottom structure, said bow means comprising a box-like rstructure including a transverse bulkhead joining said hull side means; a cargo deck provided on said bottoml structure; an engine disposed ,in said bow box structure forward of said bulkhead; and

Ytransmission means disposed beneath said deck for connecting said engine to said mechanisms for differentially driving the latter.

JAMES M. HAI'I. 

